The EMD GP39-2 is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between 1974 and 1984. 239 examples of this locomotive were built for American railroads. Part of the EMD Dash 2 line, the GP39-2 was an upgraded GP39. The power for this locomotive was provided by a turbocharged 12-cylinder 12-645E3 diesel engine, which could produce .
Unlike the original GP39, which sold only 23 examples as railroads preferred the reliable non-turbocharged GP38, the GP39-2 was reasonably successful, ascribed to its better fuel economy relative to the GP38-2, which became of more interest in the 1970s energy crisis, and to its better performance at altitude.
Original owners
The GP39-2 sold to five railroads and two industrial operators:
Railroad Quantity Road numbers NotesAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway1063600–3705 Remainder to BNSF; 3600-3616 sold to Willamette & Pacific Railroad in 1993 as 2301-2317. Now later Portland & Western RailroadBurlington Northern Railroad402700–2739All to BNSFKennecott Utah Copper Corporation321-3, 705–711, 779–799, 905705-711 and 779-799 were built with raised cab roofs and extra windows for improved visibility in the Bingham open pit copper mine. Kennecott #3 was built for the Ray Mines Division of Kennecott Copper CorporationMissouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad20360–379371 to UP as 2370, then to NEGS, then to WAMX as 3927, operating with AA; remainder to UPPhelps Dodge Corporation133Reading Company203401–3420 To Delaware and Hudson Railway as 373, 374, 380, 382–386, 389, 7401–7403, 7406–7410, and 7418–7419, then to CSX as 4300–4319Delaware and Hudson Railway207601-7620 To Boston and Maine, to UP, and then to Webb Asset ManagementTotal 239
Rebuilds
As of July 2026, Union Pacific has rebuilt 14 of their GP39-2's into GP39Ns at the Downing B. Jenks shops in North Little Rock, Arkansas.. These units received a microprocessor control system to increase adhesion, control options, and extend the life of the locomotive.
Preservation One GP39-2 is preserved as of 2026:
Reading Company #3412 is preserved as CSX #4317 at the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. It was donated by CSX in 2019. The locomotive is undergoing restoration to its original appearance.
References
External links
Sarberenyi, Robert. EMD GP39-2 Original Owners